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Aug. 27, l957 1 H. coMsTocK EQUALIZING AND CONTROL VALVE original Filed Dec. 22.. 195o 5 sheets-sleet 1 d n, Y 6 4a a u# www w Mw wwnwwww W/zm Mw/foow; ,wm M a 5N 0 i /z/ L E l l i .qnnlull V mm@ Vf MW. M N I mum u. mm |l|i h Wmv- ..l`..-|l\1 wmxwm H. U7 l i RT x e M M. wm u a 7 n M/ J Y e B Z a4 6. Z4 0 .6 Zxp mi nu W kiltlWWWUUWM Aug. 27, 1957 l.. H. coMsTocK Re- 24,352

EQUALIZING AND CONTROL VALVE:

original Filed Dec. 22,' 195o s sheets-sheet 2 @AAP/ ATTO/@VIV Aug. 27, 1957 L. H. coMsTocK EQUALIZING AND CONTROL VAL-VE original Filed Deo; 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. wwi M A TTOR/VEY.

United States Patent No. 202,260, December 22,1950, y Application for reissue April 3, 1956, SerialNo. 575,920

rinialfpsrn'fbiufrrns iro l'prrr 'or this reissue specification; mt'tr printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This 'invention relatestoequalizing and control valves andv more ,particularly to avalve arrangement suitable for use, in d-rill pipe or the like Ain oil wells. -In the drilling of oil wells and the like it is customary toA scalotf a potential producing formation in order to obtain arsample of the `tiuid ofthe formation and.to obtain a shut-in or closed-in pressure reading of the formation. Conventionally, a packer or packing means is setabove the potential producing formation to pack off 4the upper end of the borehole .to prevent hydrostatic uidfrom above entering the formation or the testing means employed. I r ln the testing of such -formationsit is 'often difficult toequalize the pressure above and below the packerin order to free the packer and to provide valve means which assure the operator of obtaining the closed pressure of the formation being tested.

`Itis an object kof the present invention to provide a suitable valvearrangement which may be operated by manipulation of the drillstem or conduit to which it is connected and which is ,capable of performing various functions, ysuch as, relieving l the pressure .bencathth'e packer when it is being placed in position, enabling a test sampleof the particular formation being tested. to be obtained and providing a valve closurein order that the closed inpressure of the formation may be obtainedlprior to Yequaliz'ing the pressure aboveY andbelow the packer. v It is a particular object ofthe present invention to provide ,a. valve, asse mbly which will equalize thepressure a', ve andbe'lowthe packer vbut yet` vwill provide a closure prior to 'eqalizing thepressurevafter the sample has been obtained in order that a closed formation pressure 'may be obtained. y i It is yet a further object andfeature of the. present invention to provide a valve assemblywhichhas a time lagb'etween the closing of the.valve adapted to permit formation uid to ilow into the sample receiving chamber or conduit and the opening of the equalizing valve YAwherebya shut-in pressure of the formation being tested is automatically obtained. f

, It is yet a further object of the present inventionto provide a control and.l equalizing valve assembly which issirple and rugged in use and which omits many of the elements of conventional valves now in use.

vAfeature .of the invention is vthe provision of a control valve which opens only after the toolr hasbeen set thereby preventing drill fluid from entering the sample conduit or ,chamber and thereby. eliminating the usual disc valve .foithis purpose. Y Y Y, .Y A furthe r feature isthe p rovisioupf automatic jarring means to aidin unseating 'packing leinn't's used in oil well testing and the like.

Re. 24,352 Reissued Aug'. 27, 1957 a ice l'Other and further vobjects and advantages rresideV iii certain novel features of the arrangement andconstrnction 'of parts as will be apparent from the following der scription faken in connection 'with the accompanying drawing, in which- U Fig. 1 is afview in side elevationof apparatus illustrating the principles of the invention, the farrangemntiillustrating. equaliai'ngrga'ndv control valves in connection with a typical formation tester assembly, 4 i f n Fig- .2 .is a side view, partially in 1sec/tion, illustrating the equalizingf'and control valves 'as the d'e'vic'eis lowered into awell bore,.. r f vf v3 is isimilar to4 Fig. 2 but illustratesf'the valve assembly in position for taking sample lluid from the formation being ."tes'ted,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged side elevations in section better illustrating the embodiment of Fig'. 2 and ,Figsl 7-10, inclusive', are cross-sectional views taken along corresponding ."section line-sof Figs. 4 and N6, and

Fig.- y11 Villustrates a modification of valve means which maybe utilizedin the valve assembly.

' Referring now to the drawings, where like character references designatelike 'parts throughout the 'several views, andpartcularly to Fig. 1, the "assembly there shown includes, the equalizing and :control valve assembly 10, secured at-its upper end to the string ofpipe 12 'eittending up to the surface (not'shown), and connected iat its llower end to a .typical.'rathole .packer 14, which in turn is secured to a .conventional y"pressure Vrecording device `16 `and a perforated section of pipe v18 by which sample uid from the 'formation being tested may be obtained. f f

TheV assembly indicated is typical and is illustrated for the purpose of disclosure.. `Any type -of conventional packer or packing means iiiay be utilized, such "as a ho'ok-wall packer and any conventional pressure record# ing means may beutilized. Forcexan'ple, a pressure recording device illustrated in Patent No. 2,078,623, is? sued April 27, k1937,10 H. D.. wilde, Jr., may be 's'ekji and'.the-formation,tester'maybe `such as that vdisclosed in theU. S. patent to Moore, No. 2,189,919, dated February 13; 1940, entitled ..Method and Apparatus :for Formation Pressure, Testing. Manifestly, the forma# tion tester and packing assembly may be of any known type.

. Referring now more particularly to in'y novel equalizing and control valve assembly, and` with particular ref ence to Figs. 2, ,4, 5 and.6 the valve assembly is made up of two major elements, fan lupper valve element 2l) and a Iowervalve element 22. The upper 20 and lower 22 valve elements ,each include tubular piston chambers 24k and 2 6 respectively, which are closed at their upper endsk by the submembersZS and `30respectively, and yare closedV at .their lower endsby-.the closurefmembrs 3 2 and 34, y respectively. As illustrated, these elementsmay manner.

Threadedly securedyto the lower .ends'` of the closure members `32V and v34. ofgthe pistonchambers 24 and y26 are the tubular runout.chambers.36 and 38, respectively. ifhefunction of these runout chambers will be apparent ater., Y ,r f

fIn order, that thevalve assembly might befmanipulated from ,thefsurfaceby meansofthe string of pipe.12, a mandrel 40 is tliread'ec'lly secured at its upper end to the l coupling 42, which in turn is threadedly secured to the be threadedly secured together in the usual and customary string of pipe 12--in -the customary manner. lower end of the mandrel 40 the keys 44 are provided to move in the keyways 46 of the upper tubular element 28 of the upper valve element 20. The keys 44 are delined by the attened sides of the enlargement 43 which stops against the inwardly projecting circumferential flange 45 of the upper submember 28. Immediately below the keys or splines 44 the mandrel 40 is turned down, as indicated by the numeral-48 and khas secured thereto the piston 50,' the mandrel lextending therebelow through the upper piston chamber 24 and into the closure member 32.- As better seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the mandrel 40 and its turned down portion 48 are provided with ay central passage 52 therethrough which is in communication with the passage 54 of the coupling 42 which in turn is in communication-with the interior passage 56 of the string of pipe 12. The lower end of the turned down portion 48 of the mandrel 40 is closed by the threaded plug 58 and disposed proximate lthe lower end thereof are the lateral ports 60 which are in communication with the central passage 52 of the turned down portion 48 of the mandrel 40.

yThe lowervalve element 22 similarfto the upper l valve element 20 and has the upper endof the mandrel 70, which extends `from the upper end of lower valve element 22, threadedly secured to the lower portion of the runout chamber 36. The mandrel 70 is substantially identical to the mandrel 40 and has the keys 74 slidable in the keyways 76 of the upper submember 30 of the lower valve element 22 and has the turned down portion 78 immediately therebelow extending substantially through the lower valve element 22. The keys 74 are defined by the flattened sidesof thefenlargernent 73 which stops against the inwardly projecting circumferential flangel 75 of the lower sub 30. A piston 80 is secured to the turned down portion 78 of the mandrel 70 and-the turned-down portion 78 continues and is adapted to move into the runout chamber 38. Thus the mandrel 70 and its continuation 78 is slidable through the lower valve element; however, the lateral ports 82 provided in the mandrel 70 are" opento the well bore when the tool is being lowered into or raised from testing position.

As better illustrated in Fig. 6, the lower end-of the turned down portion 78 of the mandrel 70, here illustrated as an additional threadedmember to the lower endgof the mandrel 70, is not plugged, but is open and' uid may circulate through the lateral ports 82 out through the apertures in the section of pipe`18 in order that drill tluid may circulate past the packer and formation testing means. Thus, a swabbingaction is avoided and the pressure above and below the packer is equalized.

The upper ends of submembers 28 and 30, and the lower ends of the closure members 32 and 34 are counterbored, all as indicated by the numeral 84 and conventional packing 86 and a gland ring 88 are utilized to provide an effective seal for these members, which comprise in effect stufling boxes. The stung boxes illustrated are all substantially the same except that the stuliing box in the lower end of the closure member 32 is extended with respect to the others. This is best seen in Fig. and the extended stuing box is provided in connection with the lateral ports 60 for a purpose which will be apparent later. Packing is provided at the lower ends of the piston chambers 24 and 26, the packing here illustrated as C-cups 90. It is noted that the C-cup 90 disposed at the lower end of the piston chamber 24 extends upwardly and the O-cup 90 disposed at the upper end of the lower piston chamber 26 extends downwardly. These C-cups are positioned in this manner inasmuch as the valve action in the upper and lower chamber is reversed. A junk ring 91 may be.v provided in connection with the lower C-cup to provide the required support for the cup. v Y' Referringy now vmore particularly to the pistons'50 and pistons are formed of resilient material or rubber and the piston 50 is downwardly and outwardly diverging and terminates in a substantially circumferential head 92. The lower piston 80 is upwardly and outwardly diverging and terminates in the upwardly facing circumferential head 94. Each piston is drilled and tapped and has the removable orifices or chokes 96 threaded in their heads. Each piston chamber is drilled and tapped, as at 98 in order that the chambers may be provided with hydraulic oil or Huid, the threaded openings 98 normally being closed by the threaded plugs 100. Thus, as the upper piston 50 moves downwardly its downward movement will be relatively slow inasmuch as the rubber piston is expanded against the piston chamber walls; whereas, when it moves upwardly its upward movement will lbe fast in relation to its downward movement inasmuch as the rubber piston is compressed because it diverges downwardly and outwardly. In order to insure a fast initial upward movement, the compression spring 102 is disposed in the lower end of the upper piston chamber 24. The

A. movement of the lower piston is the reverse of the movement of the .upperfpiston 50.A Thus the downward movement of the .lower piston 80 will be fast with respect to the upward movement of this piston. For reasons which will be apparent later, a plurality of vertical grooves or recesses 101 to permit the bypassing of hydraulic Vfluid is disposed near the upper end of the lower piston chamber 26.

' As illustrated in Fig. 11,-as analternative embodiment, a, piston 104 may be employed in lieu of the tapered pistons illustrated. The piston 104 isv illustrated lwith the check valve assembly 1061and, in the event such a valve is used, the upper valve would havethe check'- valve as illustrated in Fig. -lland, theelower valve would have the check valve in an inverted position to that of the piston illustrated-in Fig. A1l. In other words, any suitable valve means may be utilized whichwill provide a-relatively slow downward movement with respect to the upwardmovement of the upper valve 50, and'arelatively fast downward movement with respect to the upward movement of the lower valve 80. It is essential, in order to obtain a closed in pressure reading of a formation, to

close the control valve and thereafter open the equalizingv valve. t

To seat and remove a packer and obtain a sample of the formation uid and the shut-in or closed-in pressure of the formation with the apparatus just described, the operation may be as follows:

The assembly may be lowered into the well bore as illustrated in Fig. 1.` In lowering the apparatus into the well bore the elements of the valve assembly will be in the position indicated in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. That is, upper and lower valve elements 20 and 22, respectively, will be hanging or suspended from the mandrels 40 and 70 by means of the enlargements 43 and 73 engaging the flanges 45 and 75 at the upper ends of the sub members 28 and 30. Thus, the ports 60 will be in the upper end of the packing 86 and the ports 82 will be in `communication with the hydrostatic pressure of the well fluid in the well bore 110. Thus as the apparatus is lowered into the well bore, the drill uid may circulate through the apertures in the section of pipe 18 through a passage in the tester and packer on up through the central passage in the turned-down portion 78 and the lower mandrel 70, out through the apertures 82 in the formation. Thus a swabbing'action is prevented land the apparatus may be lowered readily into a well bore having drill fluid` therein.

20 will not be prematurely opened in view of the slow downward movement of the piston-50 in the upper piston chamber 24, This prevents contaminating fluid from the closing of thelower valve element and the openlng'f the upper valve element ismsatilsfactory, although 'other periods of lag' 'may be providedas desired, By this cnstruction rthe lr't'iinar'y disc valve is omitted.u 1 Assmirig iow that the arrangement is 'lowered to 'the desired position at whichdfa test Iis t be V#taken (and, 'as illustrated in Fig. *1,* the rat-hole V1 f`al "er' l llas Aentered and i's 'seating on the 'upper portion o'f 'the rat-hole 112, the downward movement of the assemb 1ll be stopped. rfi-I jp'ressiiig fue packer inte 'pcsitieii inJ 't-hele, downward Yforcevvill be transmitted means of the string pf pipe Y1'2 `dcvv'iwrdly 'through 'fii'e 'iiiaiiarei '40 'rid `'the iiiiiiife'i 70. x i

-fA's indicated vuejrefc'fcfe, sie dcw'nwr'ii frei/'e1 'er the p's't'n 50 will b Vvrelatively `Slw`4al`d its down ltra'yl will be jinete-red by "tue Yhyiruaiilic avid -is'assing ihr ugh tli'e'refvble 'ie o'r choke 96. The downward avel tlfenridr'el 7 0 will be relatively yfalsvt 'and y A8'2 will rapidly move linto the packing 8 ,6 threbyfclsig thea'ssetnbly 10 with're'spect to hydrostatic pressiire'abive the "packer 14. Thus there is a time lag between the movements of the r'nandr'els 40 and 770 thereby permitting the pcker to be 'set'in sealing "engagement with "the walls of the ratfhole before 'the ports 60'ni'ov'e into the runot chamber s6. f p y y i the Vllve sseibly is i'll 'fQmatOhtSti'g-P'S- tin,'the Aelements will be invthe position illustrated in Fig. r3. Thiicjbctu pister-ic Dso` and so win beveel-eveil downwardly through their 'stroke and the apertures 82 will "have 'rnoved quickly into the A"lzfacki'ng 86. Subseqeiniy, 'the apertures 60 willniovedown out ofjthe packing 86 into 'the `riinou't chamber 36 at the lower end of the upper valve velement lof the valve ss'e`rr1b1y.v Thi's, a sample of the 'formation 'idis permitted to enter the aperturesy of tlieperforat'ed section 18 andow up through the :pressure Vrecording means and packer into the central passage 79 in the turned-down'por'tion 78 and the mandrel 70, thence into the runoutA chamber 36,'th'roi1gh 'the apertures 7Gil-and into the central passage 52 of the upper mandrel A40, through thepassag'e S4in the 'coupling 42 an'd von up into the interior' passage 56 'of the strin'g of manipulating pipe 12. v Y

vAfter the desired sample o'f the "formation'id 'has been obtained and 'it is desired to VVrelease vthe "packer, a simple upward'p'ull on Vthe manipulating strin'g'bfpip'e 12 will raise the'mandn'els 40 and 70 and thepistons 50 and 80 connected thereto. vDue tothe upwardly and inwardly tapering piston 'head1 50, th'e pp'er 'piston will move 'npwardly'rapidly thereby rapidly moving vthe 'ports 60 into the packing 'or'packed otfar'ea 86 of the' clofsire member 32 of thel piston chamber 24: To assure "aifafst initial lupwardmovement of piston 50, the "compression spring 102 has bee'nprovided. The 'upward movement'of the lowerpiston 80 will be'rnuch'sl'ower vthan the upward movement of the upp'er"piston"50, and the upwardmovernentiof the'low'er piston 80 will'be metered by there'- movable orice or choke 96 positioned therein. This the ports 8'2 will be delayed from'movingout of'thepacking 86 in the upper portion 'of the Yuppersub'member 30 of the lower pistonrchamber 26 and, inasmuch sthe lower end of the Yturned-down'fportion 48 of 'the"'mandrel "40 "is plugged, as indicated at 58, the lower valve element 2v2 remains closed and a shut-in 'orclosed VVinpressre 'ofl'the formation may be obtained by vthe pressure recorder 16. Inasinuch as the upward movement of-thegpiston80` is measuredrby the .rate of ow of hydraulic uid throii'gh the removable orifice or choke 96, any desired time lag may be obtained byutilizing any desired size of choke. Several minutes Vytinie lag has beenV found to besatisfactory in use, however, in order to'obta'in VVa'shut-n pressure. Thus, the travel offthe lower piston 80'iis metered by th'e neasured escape of hydraulicfc'il `frein v'the tdpbf'the 'p'fn Yillllier"26 to Hthe bottom lticitfgh the "i'iice A'96 tleY upward l'fro nt of `the pisto gr l and provides 4a jarring action to aid'n 'releasing packer. y Preferably, the jarring t/ kes place after the pre f sure is equa'lizcd below 'and abvethepacker, tii-v festly, more pu'll Qn the mnipulatingfstring resltl a greater ljarring action. When the ports '82 hav' oiled upwardly out of the packing '8*6, thefpressre b'ove 'aid below :the packer, 14 is equalizedand fu'rtlie' roverient of lthe manipulating string of pipelZ 'in 'j' nii binafien with ,the fiarriiig cficn ef the icwi i/aiiie dnseatvthepacker 1'4 and the device may be removed :from fh.W1 1.b0fh i i l hilt;V the equalizing control yalveas'semblyhags w illustrated for 'the' purpose ,'ofnd with rat-.hole packer, it i's man1 n may be utilized in connection withra' jhok-wall. pac 'such as shown in Figs. l and 5 of PtentNo. 22107;' u issued March 9, 1937, to M0. Q. YIci ton; s; Y Y of packing assembly that is manipulated by arJ-s'lot rangement. Inasmunc'h as the elements and 7 4 splined and vintertit Witliwthe keyways 46 and 76 'relati rotation between the mandrels andthe Abodies of the K l* assembly ist prevented. O f course, if desired', Vljiwusing a rat-hole packeras illustratedfliere, the, lspline"s may omitted. However', it is preferable tohave anvalv'e Vsembrly which may be kutilized either with( a bottom- Qle packer or a packer which 'may beset at "any desired 16- cation inawell boren A A, l Many changes may. bei 'madeitiln theidletails the sembly illustrated and, if ,de's'ired, theA Ipist covered with suitblesheath, such and may beef 'any .,CQnYentliOnal .gsm ra 911.41141 rapid movement is permissible in one ured movement is obtained 'in th` Marsi/eri, rhs .splines mayb i i therpartsjofzthe-tol ,andpt et sider'ably iii rits* detailsnjlt K mandrelshave beenyldesc howver,'for ease of'asfsem l j Y 4 tip "ofv several threaded elements, as i'l'ustrated in thfe: driviir'se. d i i i Whilel the c'olttrol or upper Valve Iisslambly qzlifzrg or lower vvdlvme lisse y It seem'srnnifest that this 'testing tool velimi'. p Y n. valves 'dfcdnventonal tools, 'suchas th'edisk "Valve,V valve se'atfsfand springs on the'ininpvalve's ventional shut-in valves. T hisjp rmits of of'construc'tion'whic'h is nototlifewiseineV` ventionaltesting tools. `l/Io'e 'v`e'r', th'e ioperation*I tool insures against folin'gof the vrtool Varidresiilt l' misfle'ding indications Ato the operators, rronelis "oreliisions '.or lo'ssof the'test altogether. r A,

whileeniy ene -eiiibedimeiit ef iiie'iii'v'eiili" and described herjelimitis ebvieusv that 've and us'es 'may 4bem'de withoutdepartin'g f r of the invention orthe 4s'co'peof "the nneted clailns'.

I V'c1/aim:

mandrel is in elevated position, ports on the lower portion of the first mandrel establishing uid communication of the run-out chamber with the internal passage of the first mandrel, said ports being disposed in the stuffing boxwhen the first mandrel is elevated whereby the first valve is closed when the first mandrel is elevated, and a second valve including a second mandrel provided with an internal passage throughout its length andk in fluid communication with and extending from the run-out chamber, a second piston chamber, said second mandrel slidably extending into said second piston chamber, a second piston on the second mandrel slidably disposed in the second piston chamber, a second stuffing box in the upper end of the second piston chamber, ports in the second mandrel permitting fluid circulation through the second mandrel and said last-mentioned ports, said lastmentioned ports disposed above the second stuffing box when the second mandrel is in elevated position whereby the second valve is open when the second mandrel is elevated, hydraulic fluid in each piston chamber, said first and second valves including means operable in each of said piston chambers for providing relatively slow downward movement of said rst mandrel and fast downward movement of said second mandrel and relatively fast upward movement of the first mandrel and slow upward movement of the second mandrel whereby downward movement of the first and second mandrels moves the ports of the second mandrel into the second stuffing box before moving the ports of the first mandrel out of the first stuffing box thereby closing the second valve before opening the first valve, and whereby upward movement of the mandrels moves the ports of the first mandrel into the first stuffing box before moving the ports of the second mandrel out of the second stuffing box thereby closing the first valve for a predetermined time interval before opening the second valve.

2. An 'equalizing and control valve assembly adapted for use with a formation tester for testing oil wells and the like and adapted to be secured to a string of pipe for lowering into an oil well comprising, in combination, a first valve including a first piston chamber, a first mandrel having an internal passage closed at its lower end slidably extending into the piston chamber and ad-apted to be -secured to and in fluid communication with the interior of the string of pipe, a first piston on the mandrel slidably disposed inthe first piston chamber, a closed run-out chamber connected to the piston chamber, a first stuffing box between the run-'out chamber and the first piston chamber, the lower portion of the first mandrel being slidably disposed in the stuing box when the first mandrel a is in elevated position, ports on the lower portion of the first mandrel establishing fluid communication of the run-out chamber with the internal passage of the first mandrel, said ports being disposed in the stuffing box when the first mandrel is elevated whereby the first valve is closed when the first mandrel is elevated, and a second valve including a second mandrel having an internal passage throughout its length and in fluid communication with and extending from the run-out chamber, a second piston chamber, said second mandrel slidably extending into said lsecond piston chamber, a second piston secured to and slidably disposed in the second piston chamber, a second stufiing box in the upper end of the second piston chamber, ports in the second mandrel permitting Icirculation of uid through the second mandrel and the lastmentioned ports, said last-mentioned ports disposed above the second stuing box when the second mandrel is in elevated position whereby the second valve is open when the second mandrel is elevated, hydraulic fluid in each piston chamber, and means mounted on the first and second mandrels and operable in the first and second piston chambers for providing relatively slow downward movement of said first mandrel .and fast downward movement of said second mandrel and relatively fast upward movement of the rst mandrel and slow upward movement of the second mandrel whereby downward move-v ment of the first and second mandrels moves the ports in the second mandrel into the second stuffing box before moving the ports of the first mandrel out of the first stuffing box thereby closing the second valve before opening the first valve, and whereby upward movement of the mandrels moves the ports in the first mandrel into the first stuffing box before moving the ports of the second mandrel out of the lsecond stufng box thereby closing the first valve for a predetermined time interval before opening the second valve.

3. An equalizing and control valve assembly adapted for use with a formation tester for testing oil wells and the like and adapted to be secured to -a string of pipe for lowering into an oil well comprising, in combination, an upper valve including an upper piston chamber, anupper mandrel having aninternal passage closed at its lower end slidably extending into the upper piston chamber and adapted to be secured to and in fluid communication With the interior of the lstring of pipe, an upper piston on the mandrel slidably disposed in the upper piston chamber, a closed run-out chamber, an upper stuffing box connecting the closed run-out chamber to the lower portion of the upper piston chamber, the lower portion of the upper mandrel being slidably disposed in the upper stufling box when the upper mandrel is in elevated position, ports on the lower portion of the upper mandrel establishing fluid communication of the run-out chamber with the passage in the upper mandrel, said ports being disposed in the upper stuffing box when the upper mandrel is elevated whereby the upper valve is closed when the upper mandrel is elevated, and a lower valve including a lower mandrel provided with a passage throughout its length and in fluid communication with and extending from the run-out chamber, a lower piston chamber, said lower mandrel slidably extending into said lower piston chamber, a lower piston secured to the mandrel and slidably disposed in the lower piston chamber, a lower stuffing box in the upper end of the lower piston chamber, ports in the lower mandrel permitting circulation of uid through the lower mandrel and the last-mentioned ports, said lastmentioned ports disposed above the lower stuffing box when the lower mandrel is in elevated position whereby the lower valve is open when the lower mandrel is in elevated position, hydraulic uid in each piston chamber, choke means in each piston for permitting hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough, and by-pass means associated with each of said pistons and piston chambers whereby hydraulic fluid by passes the lower piston when moving downwardly thereby providing faster downward movement of said lower mandrel than that of said upper mandrel and hydraulic fluid bypasses the upper piston when moving upwardly thereby providing more rapid upward movement of the upper mandrel than that of said lower mandrel whereby said lower valve closes before said upper valve opens on downward movement of said mandrels and said upper valve closes for a predetermined time interval before said lower valve opens on upward movement of said mandrels. p

4. The equalizing and control valve assembly of claim 3 where t-he by-pass means comprises a valve in each piston, the valve in the upper piston adapted to be closed on downward movement and open on upward movement of said upper piston, and the valve in the lower piston adapted to open on downward movement and close on upward movement of said lower piston.

5. The equalizing and control valve assembly of claim 3 where the by-pass means comprises upwardly-tapering sides on the upper piston and downwardly-tapering sides on the lower piston, each said piston formed of resilient material whereby downward movement of said first piston 'and upward movement of said second piston expands said pistons and thereby provides relatively slow downward and upward movement, respectively, and upward movement of the upper piston and downward movement i'ncludin'g additional -by passmean's di's'posedpr 'tif't'helow'erwpiston compressfs'isid *st ns relatively fast upward movement of piston and downward movement o f'saidloweifpijsto 6, The equalizing and control valveadssemblymo claim fthenupperfend of the -lower pistonfharlnber adapted lto permitl rapid' passage of hydralicuidabout the lower piston whereby said lower piston moves upwardly at a relatively slow rate until reaching said second by-pass means where it is rapidly accelerated thereby imparting a jarring action to the lower piston chamber.

7. The equalizing and control valve assembly of claim 3 including spring means at the lower end of the upper piston chamber to resiliently urge the upper piston up' wardly.

8.- The equalizing and control valve assembly of claim 3 including means to prevent relative rotation between each of said mandrels and said piston chambers.

9. A valve assembly adapted for use with a formation tester and adapted to be secured to a string of pipe for lowering into a well bore comprising, in combination, an upper -control valve, said control valve including a first piston chamber, a first mandrel provided with an internal passage closed at its lower end extending downwardly into the upper end of and suspending the piston chamber and adapted to be secured to and in fluid communication with the interior of the string of pipe, a first piston on the mandrel slidably disposed in the first piston chamber, a closed run-out chamber, a first stufling box connecting the run-out chamber to the lower end of the first piston chamber, the lower portion of the first mandrel being lslidably disposed in the stufing box when the rst mandrel is in elevated position, ports on the lower portion of the first mandrel establishing fluid communication of the runout chamber with the passage in the first mandrel, said ports disposed in the stufllng box when the first mandrel is elevated whereby the control valve normally is closed when lowering or raising the valve assembly, and a lower equalizing valve including a second mandrel provided with an internal passage in fluid communication with the interior of and extending from the lower portion of the run-out chamber, a second piston chamber, said second mandrel slidably extending through and suspending said second piston chamber, a second piston secured to and slidable in the second piston chamber, a second stuffing box in the upper end of the second piston chamber, and ports in the second mandrel above the second stuffing box when the second mandrel is in elevated position but adapted to move into the stuffing box when the second mandrel is in lowered position whereby the equalizing valve normally is open thereby permitting circulation of fluid through the second mandrel and said last-mentioned ports when lowering or raising the valve assembly into or from the well bore, hydraulic fluid in each piston chamber, and means mounted on the first and second mandrels operable in each piston chamber whereby hydraulic fluid flows past the lower piston faster than the upper piston on the downstroke of the mandrels and flows by the upper piston faster than the lower piston on the upstroke of the mandrels thereby closing the circulating valve before opening the control valve on downward movement of said mandrels and closing the control valve for a predetermined time interval before opening the circulating valve on upward movement of said mandrels.

10. The valve assembly of claim 9 including by-pass means disposed proximate the upper end of the second piston chamber for bypassing hydraulic fluid about said second piston whereby said second piston moves upwardly at a relatively slow rate until reaching said bypass means where it is accelerated rapidly thereby imparting a jarring action to the second piston chamber.

1I. A valve assembly adapted for use with a formation tester adapted to be secured to a string of pipe for lowering into a well bore comprising, in combination, an upper ses the in terioriof the string ofpip internalpassage.- closed .adjacent its lower end slidably extending into said .passages and through the piston chamber `adapted to, be securedrto'and in fludcommunication helvwefieeftw-@f hg first mandrel being extendabledbel wake loweroff. the 'passages when the mandrel is in a lowered position, packing means packing offl the first mandrel in each of said passages, one or more ports in said lower portion of the first mandrel in fluid communication with the internal passage in the first mandrel, said ports being positioned in the lower of the packing means when the first mandrel is in an elevated position and below the lower of the packing means when the first mandrel is in said lowered position whereby the main valve is closed and opened when the first mandrel is in said elevated position and' said lowered position, respectively, hydraulic fluid in the piston chamber, means including a piston mounted on the first mandrel and operable in the piston chamber whereby the hydraulic fluid flows past the piston relatively slow on the downstroke and relatively fast on the upstroke of the first mandrel, a run-out chamber connected to the lower end of said body, and an equalizing valve, said equalizing valve including a second body provided with a passage, second packing means disposed in the last-mentioned passage, a second mandrel having an internal passage connected to the lower end of the run-out chamber, and one or more ports in the second mandrel above the stuffing box when the second mandrel is in elevated position but adapted to move into the stuing box when the second mandrel is in a lowered position whereby the equalizing valve normally is open and whereby on downward movement of said mandrels said equalizing valve closes before said main valve is opened.

12. A valve assembly adapted for use with a formation tester and adapted to be secured to a string of pipe for lowering into a well bore comprising, in combination, an upper main valve including a first body provided with a passage therethrough, a first mandrel provided with an internal passage extending downwardly into said passage in said body and adapted to be secured to and in fluid l communication with the interior ofthe string of pipe, a

closed run-out chamber disposed at the lower end of said body, the lower portion 'of the first mandrel being slidable in the closed run-out chamber, a valve closing said passage when said first mandrel is in elevated position and operable to open said passage to said run out chamber when the first mandrel is in lowered position, and an equalizing valve including a second body including a piston chamber provided with passages at each end, a second mandrel having an internal passage slidably extending through said passages and the piston chamber, said second mandrel in fluid communication with the interior of and extending from the lower portion of the run-out chamber, a stung box at the upper end of the piston chamber, one or more ports in the second mandrel above the stuing box when the second mandrel is in elevated position but adapted to move into the stung box when the second mandrel is in lowered position whereby the equalzing valve normally s open thereby permitting circulation of fluid through the second mandrel and said ports when lowering or raising the valve assembly into or from the well bore, hydraulic fluid in said piston chamber, and means mounted on the second mandrel operable in said piston chamber so that hydraulic fluid flows past the piston faster on the downstroke of the second mandrel than on its upstroke whereby the equalizing valve closes after the main valve on upward movement of the mandrels.

I3. The valve assembly of claim 12 including bypass means disposed proximate the upper end of the piston chamber for bypassing hydraulic fluid about said piston whereby said piston moves upwardly at a relatively slow rate until reaching said bypass means where it `is` acceler- :f '11 12 ated rapidly thereby impartiga iarrngacvtipn to the-prisk- 1 2,189;103-.. Drippset a1'. j leb.r 6, 1.940 tonharzbe'rnY 'Y f 2,265,431 |Keri-* Dec, 9, 1941 References Cited in the file Gf this patent 2288780 Bradner July 7 1942 or the original patent 5 laler et al' Beb- 72 orm ar. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,321 Courier sept. 11, 1951 Y 2,073,107` Johnston Mar. 9, 1937 l,2,646Q127Y Breukelman July 21, 1953 2,129,216` Johnston Sept. 6, 1938 v 

